His Other Wife: A Novel — page 51: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“THE DEAD LIVES.” 43 I cannot give you. By becoming my wife you give me the right to come to the rescue of your property, and save it from sacrifice, and you from poverty and all its grim sufferings. Only in this way can I stop the legal proceed- ings which must proclaim your sad reverses to the world.” He touched the quick spot on Leda’s nature now; he knew how little nerve she had to endure the bitter scoffs, and still more bitter compassion, of her social equals and rivals. Having found the waqund, he pressed it hard. ‘You know how the world of women will gloat over the downfall of the queen who has held empire so long; and, Leda, you are too delicate a floWer to bear the biting blasts of adverse fate. Ido not ask for your love now—I will win that hereafter. Only place your hand here in mine—that will be answer enough until you care to speak.” | Leda closed her eyes; a violent shuddering seized her; the doom he painted seemed so unbearable—the escape from it scarcely less so; but in the latter her pride would be saved, though her heart might starve. She grew livid and cold with the horror of her own act, as she laid her fingers on the outstretched palm of Mathew Croft’s hand. * * ok ** * * It is just a week since Leda’s wedding-day. Mrs. Croft is seated with her husband upon the sunlit piazza at Lu- cerne, and enduring, with a very bad grace, his uxorious attentions. <A critical observer might easily discover that her patience with his amorous demonstrations was already. Comicbooks: (E(@) 3